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Refereed by Yuji Shimada
Though far less recognizable by name to North American fight fans than UFC mainstays "Big" John McCarthy, Herb Dean and others, Japan's Yuji Shimada is one of professional MMA's most accomplished and experienced referees, with more than a decade of officiating title bouts and other high profile matchups to his credit.
Shimada served as head official for Japan's defunct Pride FC promotion, where from its inaugural 1997 event forward he presided over some of MM's biggest matchups, including Rickson Gracie vs. Nobuhiko Takada at Pride 1, Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Royce Gracie at the Pride 2000 Grand Prix Finals, and the championship bouts between Wanderlei Silva and Quinton Jackson at Pride 28, Fedor Emelianenko and "Minotauro" Nogueira at Pride Shockwave 2004, and many others. Shimada continued to referee under the DREAM and Fields promotions.
